The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-07-07
SEVEN DAYS BATTLE GROUND.

6GNEN DAYS BATTLE dhOUNOs
Mcclellan and Lee had each fixed on June
90 as q day for attacking the other. Nc
CloIlan meant to storm Richmond and take it
by ASSAULT Lee intended to attack Mcclellan
and raise the siege OF Richmond. But Nc
CleIlan was behind Lee in moving, and
the Confederates got in their attack
first Then Mcclellan dismissed his plan Of
taking Richmond for the time, and made
preparations for secure retreat to the James,
which was now In possession OF the Federals
from its mouth nearly to the Confederate
capital
The first battle Of the seven days fighting
was that OF Mechanicsville, June &c. A
slight skirmish had taken place June 25
PoFter's corps was stationed around and to
the east Of Mechanicsville. Near here was
Beaver Dam creek, with Ellison's Mill upon
Il. McCaII's Pennsylvanians were stationed
on the rising ground near EIlison's Mil, COM
manding the creek To the right, left and
rear Of Mccall were Gens Reynolds. Martin
dale, Griffin, Meade and Seymour, with their
commands. The troops were ranged half
moon shape on Beaver Dam creek. Mechan-
icsville bridge crossed the Chickahominy.
Stonewall Jackson and his men were TO be
in the rear Of Mechanicsville on the morning
Of the Goth. Branch's Confederate brigade
was to cross the ChIckahominy up near Rich
mond, move rapidly down the river road and
clear Meadow bridge Of its Union guard, and
then strike eastward, join Stonewall jackson,
and make an attack on the Federal rear east
Of Mechnnicsville. Meadow bridge crossed
the Chickahominy north of the one at
Mechanicsville.
As soon as Meadow bridge was cleared of
FedeEals- A. r. Hin was to cross it rapidly,
push still further south and then take the
road to Mechanicsville That movement
would leave the Mechanicsville bridge clear.
Longstreet and d. H. Hill were to cross it,
march hastily on and join the attacking
column. Thus McClellsn's army on the north
bank Of the Chickahominy would be involved
front and rear, and could be cut to pieces.
But for the first time In his life Stonewan
jackson was late. The two Hills and Long
street carried out their part OF the pro-
gramme, attacking the Federal front as it
faced south on the Chickahominy. Their
work was with the Federal left, Jackson's
with the right.
A. p. Hills advance had driven the Union
pickets back TO the main line at Ellison's
Mil There was time enough for the Federals
to form In battle line. Hill and Longstreet
advanced in the teeth Of q tremendous fire OF
musketry and artillery from the heights
around EIlison's Mil The firing came from
Gen Seymour, who held the left. The Con-
federates had hoped to turn the Union flank
and cut the left to pieces. In the midst OF
deadly fire they were hurled back, and the
movement failed, and so the battle of Ne
| Gainesville ended It had lasted from
| O'Clock IN the afternoon till @ McCalIs men
were In the bloodiest Of the contest The Con-
fsderates lost between a,OOO and 1900, the
| Federals about 400
Next morning Mcclellan resolved to retreat
| south and take up a position on the James He
found for certain that jackson was in his vtcin-
| ity with q large force, and had only been de-
tanned by some Federal skirInishers at Tolo-
/ potomy creek, north Of Mechanicsville.
/ Here some military critics declare Mcclellan
made another mistake. The Confederates had
left Richmond protected only by q, COO men
-Hugeris and MagrudeFAs divisions-on the
9th. After the Federal victory at Mechanics
VILE e Mcclellan had unexpectedly and Wig
orously attacked Richmond, he could have
cut Less army In two MAgruder, indeed, ex-
pected t. he wrote in his reports II passed
the night without sleep. Had Mcclellan
massed his whole force In column, and adj
vanced It against any point Of cur line Of bat
| tie, e. was done at Austerlitz under similar
circumstance by the greatest captain OF any
age, the occupation OF our works
about Richmond, and consequently the city
| might have been his reward"
But Mcclellan did not do Il. He began tc
retreat 70 the James.
The second battle of the seven days fight
ing was that ct Gaines Nil, or Cold Harbor
June %.
Mcclellan made ready for his right wing
to eros the ChickAhominy. During the nigh
Of the 10Th TIE heavy guns and wagons Wer'
sent across 70 the south bank Porters corps
the Fifth, was drawn up at Gaines Mills, 1
position several miles south Of Mechanics
VILE This place was between Gold Harbol
and the Chickahominy.
The Confederebes hai not retreated An
other attack was to be made on Fftz JOIN
PorteEAs corps. north OF the Chiciahominy
, next day.
PwtsFs msp-were ranged IN = ssmicircl